K40 CO2 40W China Laser und Engraver

A CD with a USB dongle is supplied with the K40 China Laser. On it is an old Corel Draw 12 version and a piece of software called LaserCDR. Since there is already a newer version of Corel on the computer, I only installed LaserCDR. After researching on the net, I came across K40 Whisperer, which means K40 Whisperer. K40 Whisperer is an alternative to LaserDraw.
I have had the best experience with the following programmes

• Corel Draw (to mark the laser template)
• Inkscape (convert the Corel file into an SVG file)
• K1 Whisperer(hands the file to the laser)

Corel Draw

Corel Draw is a powerful graphics software. I use it to create all my templates for laser engraving.
The following colours and their meaning
Rot (RGB 255,0,0) = Laser cut
Blau (RGB 0,0,255) = Vektor engraving
Schwarz = (RGB 0,0,0) = Raster engraving

The finished graphic can be saved as a cdr Corel file.

Inkscape

The K40 Whisperer cannot read in a Corel file. If the file is exported or saved as a dxf in Corel, the data is not transferred correctly. Therefore, an intermediate step must be taken.
With InkScape the Corel file can be read in and then saved as SVG.

K40 Whisperer

K40 Whisperer is an alternative software for the China Laser. The programme can be obtained free of charge here https://www.scorchworks.com/K40whisperer/k40whisperer.html
Download the appropriate version for your operating system. Choose the installer version. This version contains the appropriate driver and will be installed. The installation should not cause any problems. In case of unexpected problems, you will find the appropriate help on the same page under K40 Whisperer Reference Manual.
In my case Whisperer only did not find the Inkscape.exe on the computer and gave an error message. Press the button "Find Inkscape" under General Setting and then search for the file Inkscape.exe on the computer. In the same setting, change the units to "mm" and set the laser area (note that this depends on your laser table). Since I have installed a new height-adjustable laser table, the entire area is available to me. Finally, save the settings at the bottom with "Save". Otherwise they will be lost the next time you start the machine and have to be re-entered.

Before you start the first laser cut, make sure that the water cooling and the ventilation on the laser are switched on.

After starting K40 Whisperer, press the button "Initialize Laser Cutter". The connection to the laser is established. If a red bar with an error message appears at the bottom of the programme, try using a different USB output on your computer. Then use the button "Open Design File" to read in the SVG file previously created with inkscape.

Auf der gleichen Webseite kann auch eine Testdatei k40_whisperer_test.svg heruntergeladen werden. Als erster Cut macht es Sinn diese File zu verwenden. So bist du dir sicher das die Vorlage in Ordnung ist

Bedienfeld:

Home =Laser moves back to starting position
Unlock Rail = Laser is unlocked and can be pushed to the desired position by hand.
Pfeile = The laser head can be moved via the panel. Step size can be set under Jog Step

The lower 3 buttons are the most important
Raster Engrave = Starts the engraving process. All raster images are engraved (filling).
Verctor Engrafe  = Starts the engraving process All vector graphics are engraved (outlines)
Vector Cut = Starts the laser process. All red lines are lasered

The buttons are arranged in exactly the same way as the laser or engraving process is to be started. If Vector Cut is started first, the loose part will lie on the laser table and will probably move during the engraving process. The cutting speed can be set behind the corresponding start button